Video: Celebrating a Special Connection in 'A Rider's Best Friend'

Apr 24, 2019
by Jo Peters  
Views: 9,283    Faves: 36    Comments: 12


Before bikes, I rode horses. The beautiful part of horseback riding was being able to share the experience with an animal and working with that animal to do something that we both loved. When I first left the sport, losing this connection I was so used to sharing with another animal was really tough.

Being able to ride bikes with my dog Zoe, however, has given me back that same feeling. When we cruise down the trails together, I know she enjoys it as much as I do. When we zone out after a ride, I can tell that she relives all the beautiful moments that we shared out on the trail. When we close our eyes, we are both back on the trails, choosing our lines and flowing with the forest. Zoe is the best ride partner I could ask for. Always keen for an adventure on the trails, she seems to understand the sensory beauty of the sport in a way that few others do.


Photo NOBL Wheels Max McCulloch Visuals
Photo NOBL Wheels Max McCulloch Visuals

Photo NOBL Wheels Max McCulloch Visuals

Photo NOBL Wheels Max McCulloch Visuals
Photo NOBL Wheels Max McCulloch Visuals

Riding: @jopeters
Video and Photos: Max McCulloch Visuals/ NOBL Wheels


MENTIONS: @NOBLwheels


Posted In:
Videos Jo Peters


Author Info:
jogpeters avatar

Member since Nov 1, 2014
3 articles

57 Comments
  • 78 3
 This is good content. I am content.
  • 41 2
 It's always fine when your dog hit the trails with you. Mine previous one is burried next to her favourite trail. Iam training a new one now and it looks like she will be a total master blaster
  • 9 1
 My traildog is gonna be 6 now and we just rescued a pup, hopefully she'll get to learn from her sister and also become a master blaster!!!
  • 29 1
 I ride with 2 German short hairs, a Border Collie and a Mini Aussie and let me tell you it looks like a circus/stampede coming down the mountain to say the least. But every single one of them is having fun both on the ups and the downs. Dogs are some awesome creatures!
  • 5 0
 Squad goals! ^^^
  • 6 0
 Man! I have two pointers, if I tried this they would be 2 zig zagging across the trail chasing god knows what smell. Smart dogs but full squirrel blackouts are constant.
  • 1 0
 @arwilso4: Mine actually follow pretty darn good until I stop and then they go haywire looking for anything to chase, It's so funny to watch. They have gotten so smart as to start taking shortcuts trying to beat me.
  • 26 2
 That dog corners a lot better than I do.
  • 4 0
 plus a 360° at 1:35
  • 16 2
 Y'all remember that time the photo of the dog beat out Tippie in the Photo of the Year contest, and dudes came out of the woodwork to say dogs weren't rad and had nothing to do with mountain biking? Yeah... That was a good one.

My dog was a great trail dog in her day, but now she is too old for this. She has retired to more leisurely pursuits.
  • 9 1
 I'm training a newly adopted trail dog myself. She's a year old Belgian Malinois mix. She's indifferent towards people but LOVES to meet and play with other dogs. She has good following instincts and stays close. But months in the shelter has rendered her out of shape. She has a lot of potential but needs more training and exercise.
  • 15 0
 Sounds exactly like me tbh.
  • 8 0
 Have a 13 year old yellow lab trail dog. It’s the absolute best part of biking to me! She still shuttles with me, does trail rides every single day, and even logs some big days. Did 12+ plus mile day a couple months ago. I know she’s even way more stoked than me that riding season is starting up again right now. Her unconditional pure love for getting out trail running while I bike is best!
  • 7 0
 My dog is full Enduro. She hates walking up and doesn't trust the bike. As soon as the trail points downhill (it must be a narrow trail, no fire road), she goes into crazy mode and tries to overtake me (no more fear of the bike). She is cutting corners (I don't).
  • 8 0
 I love the little "hey, are you still there" spin at 1:35...
Great edit, moar pleaze!
  • 8 0
 Enjoyed the heck out of this......especially the 360 the dog pulls there at the end. Great work!
  • 5 0
 Hard to watch this as I recently lost my 14yr old girl. She wasn't a trail dog because she had bad hips from the horrendous first 5 months of life life that we saved her from...... I miss her.
  • 2 0
 Sorry to hear that dude. Sounds like she had a good run though.
  • 3 0
 any tips on training the hound to ride out front rather than follow behind? paranoid about losing the little guy, I think though it is his sherpherding instinct to round me up!
  • 7 0
 My herding dog tends to lead going uphill then trails downhill (because she can't keep up). I only take my dogs on rides for their benefit as they simply can't do 20 miles at my normal riding pace. However, I'll take them out for 5 miles and soft pedal to give them exercise. They love it. If you ride at a fairly fast past you really need a very athletic and younger dog that can safely take that intensity. Dogs will try to please their owners by keeping up until they can't move any longer.
  • 1 0
 My dog does a bit of both, and when I ride with other riders it's a bit exaggerated, but if she's in front and you say Brie move over she gets over to the side and waits for everyone to pass. I just let the noise of her tags let me know where she is. Works pretty well but Garmin makes a nice tracking collar.
  • 1 0
 on the way up, my hound stays out front...she just naturally did it.. i never had to train her. On the way down, she's stays glued to my wheel (a couple feet back really) until i hit about 20 mph. Maybe try riding with someone else and stay behind them, gives doggy something to chase and then you don't run the risk of leaving them too far back?
  • 1 0
 @hyroller80: Cheers all, it sounds like you have a similar experience to myself- the chap will race off on the uphills then on the downs he is just behind me by a couple of feet. I have no doubt that he could stay in front if he wanted to as he is super quick (a collie) but I think behind is where he likes to be. Good idea having someone behind him, I don't ride with other people an awful lot though. Will give it another go this wekend Smile
  • 2 0
 Used to ride with 2 dogs, but now my Ozzy boy is 10 and the pace is too much for him now, but he still has style for days!! . But, my 4 year old Lab/Hound mix named Hula is one bad ass trail dog!! She takes all the Frenchie lines and loves getting pitted. Corners better than me and has way more style off jumps. She's done a 14 mile epic ride on Colorado's Monarch Crest and wants to go along for any ride she can. As soon as she sees any of my riding gear she starts to whine and gets very excited. It brings her so much joy and is great exercise. A dog is probably the best trail companion one could ask for. She never complains about conditions and doesn't talk the whole time about tech and could care less about a Strava KOM. If i had to choose a human or dog for a trail companion it would 99% of the time be the dog!!!
  • 1 0
 Sounds just like Denzel he's a 10 year old Parson Jack X boarder terrier. Absolute ripper loves the bike and goes bananas when I'm getting the gear ready. He's done uplift days a regular 13 + mile rides twice a week.
  • 5 0
 I like dogs. People like dogs. People do not like picking up their dog’s shit.
  • 7 1
 Love riding with my dog, best riding partner no doubt!
  • 2 0
 The best part of riding with a trail dog, they are always up for a ride! My lab mix is almost 6 years old and he’s just starting to slow down a touch, but his endurance seems to be improving. Still scares when he takes the big roller lines, it looks brutal on his joints! The only downside is rain, sleet, snow or shine, he needs his exercise!
  • 1 0
 Wish I could ride with my rescue. She had the ability to be a great trail dog, but loyalty, nor wanting to keep me happy are strong suits. I have the misfortune of an all to social dog. She wants to meet every dog and every person out on the trails. Oh well, not everyone understands dogs off leash anyways.
  • 6 0
 Does a cat work????
  • 2 0
 Starr and I rode together for 12 years ,she was a great friend, Rubi and I are starting our 7th season of riding, can't imagine riding without my 4 paw drive partners, don't even wanna imagine....Ride On !
  • 2 1
 I wonder if that is an e-collar or GPS. My dog will stick with me on the trail and absolutely loves humans, but if she meets another dog out on the trails I can't be 100% positive she won't engage in a bad way with another dog, especially a dominant one. Luckily where I do most of my riding it's rare to see another human or dog, but I wondered if a shock collar would help in this instance to remind her not to fight. Great video!
  • 10 0
 Probably best to train and socialize your dog instead of shocking her when meeting other dogs on trail. This can have long term repercussions and may make her more hostile, fearful, and uncontrollable toward other dogs anywhere in the future.
  • 5 0
 Not a dog trainer but my non-expert experience with training dogs and e-collars is that is not going to help your situation. They have their place, but the foundation starts with training. I think it's best to think of them as a precise and remote clicker - they are designed to focus your dog's attention on you, not "shock" the dog into submission. If I were in your situation, I'd consult a professional dog trainer for solutions.
  • 4 0
 Looks like an e-collar. I use one on my husky whenever I bring her out on the trails. As said, it's to make them focus their attention on you instead of chasing that squirrel/deer/porcupine/skunk/racoon/etc. I haven't had to actually use the shock function in years and I don't even keep it tight enough so that the contacts are even touching her most of the time. Most of these collars also have beep and vibrate functions, and that's all it takes to get their attention back on you, as they know what's coming next if they don't listen (the shock). You are not supposed to use them to prevent aggression, as shocking them when they're in this frame of mind could do more harm than good.
  • 4 0
 @freerider11: Exactly, when properly used the shock component should only be utilized during the training stage. Once trained they know that when they hear the beep/vibrate they need to heel in order to avoid the shock and receive their reward (which can be transitioned from treats to praise through the training phase). If you've done it right the shock shouldn't need to be used long term, in fact many trainers will strongly suggest that once trained you switch to a sound/vibrate only collar as humans tend to use shocks punitively when they should only be used as a deterrent. Dogs respond massively better to positive reinforcement than punishment.
  • 4 0
 Max has got it goin' on right now! So excited for more content ❤
  • 2 0
 Cheers guys! Means a ton!
  • 3 0
 @pinkbike how about a trail dog training video Smile
  • 3 1
 my dog just bites my tires...
  • 3 1
 @OJBallington dog bites his balls
  • 1 0
 Our dog #hazeltheaussiedork loves running next to skis and bikes! Always a fun adventure.
  • 2 0
 Great video, excited to see more from Max McCulloch Visuals!
  • 1 0
 Thanks Carter, you're too nice!! Lets shoot soon.
  • 4 1
 Doggo
  • 2 0
 My trail hamster isn't quite as fast as this pup but he tries his hardest
  • 3 1
 Undoubtedly a happy dog.
  • 2 0
 Great video, great dog!
  • 3 1
 AWESOME
  • 2 0
 Best bike upgrade
  • 1 0
 pupgrade
  • 1 0
 360 in icy conditions!
  • 1 0
 Nice!!!
  • 1 0
 Love this







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